Safety-stirrup.



N. GROUSE.

SAFETY STIRBUP. v APPLIUATION FILED APR. 24, 1909.

Patented Oct. 18,1910.

N OFFICE.

NESSA CROUSE, OF MOAB, UTAH.

SAFETY-STIRRUP.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Nessa Grouse, citizen of the United States, residing at Moab, in the county of Grand and State of Utah, have invented new and useful Improvements in Safety-Stirrups, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a safety stirrup, the object of the invention being to provide a stirrup having a simple and effective construction of means for releasing the stirrup from its suspending strap to prevent injury to a rider thrown from a horse or to permit ready release of the foot when the horse falls.

The invention consists of the features of construction combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a stirrup embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, illustrating in dotted lines the releasing action. Fig. 3 is a side elevation with parts appearing in vertical section. Fig. at is a section through the cross bar and suspension strap.

Referring to the drawing, 1 designates the body of a stirrup of usual form, the same comprising a base or foot rest portion 2 and upwardly extending converging sides 3. The sides are braced by a cross rod 4, riveted or otherwise secured thereto. The upper front portion of each side is cut away to form. a vertical transverse recess 5 and a socket 6 opening thereinto, which latter receive the angular or wedge-shaped ends 7 of a cross bar 8. To this cross bar the end of the suspension strap 9 is connected, as by a staple 10.

Retaining and releasing arms 11 are pivoted at their lower ends within the recesses 5 of the sides 3 as at 1F, and normally engage and hold the ends of the bar 8 seated in the sockets 6. Each of these arms is formed at its upper end with a socket 112 to receive a lug or projection 13 on the recessed face of the contiguous side 3, whereby the arm, when in closed position, is held Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 24, 1909.

Patented Oct. 18, 1910.

Serial No. 491,962.

from lateral movement and strain on its pivot prevented. A leaf spring M is secured at its lower end to'each side 3 and bears at its upper free end against the upper end of the arm 11, thus holding the latter normally closed.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the stirrup will be susended from the strap in secure manner, but that, in the event that the rider should be thrown, the stirrup will tilt rearwardly at its upper end under the downward and rearward pull from the foot, thus causing the angular ends 7 of the bar 8 to act in the nature of cams to force the arms 11 out ward to an open position. By this means the ends of the bar will be freed from the sockets 6 and pass out between the stirrup sides 3 and arms 11, thereby releasing the stirrup which will drop and free the foot of the rider. The same result will be effected if the horse should fall and a similar pull be thrown upon the stirrup, but if such a pull is not exerted the rider may by proper manipulation of his foot release the stirrup. Hence liability of injury to a rider from being dragged by a bolting horse or rolled upon by a fallen horse will be obviated.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new is A stirrup having recesses in the front portions of the sides thereof and sockets communicating with said recesses, lugs upon said recessed sides, pivoted arms occupying said recesses for closing said sockets, said arms being provided with recesses to receive the lugs, leaf springs secured at their lower ends to the sides below the recesses in the latter and bearing at their free ends upon the arms above their pivotal connections for holding said arms closed, and a suspending bar having cam shaped ends detachably held in said sockets by the arms.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

NESSA CROUSE.

Witnesses GEORGE H. CRoUsn, EARNEST E. SI-IAFER. 

